MARTIN MAWAYA
A Gweru magistrate has convicted Takunda Manjokota of embezzling US$15,000 that was earmarked for a Gweru businesswoman divorce settlement.
He was also fined for misrepresenting himself as a registered lawyer.
Magistrate Arnold Maburo sentenced Manjokota to 20 months in prison for the first count of fraud and imposed a fine of US$200 for the second count.
On the first count, the magistrate suspended three months for good behavior and the remaining 17 months on condition that he restitutes the complainant US$15,000 or its equivalent by June 30.
The court heard that Manjokota posed as a registered lawyer and persuaded Gweru businesswoman Lindiwe Moyo to hire him for her divorce case against her ex-husband, Mthonzima Moyo.
He further convinced her that she would pay him US$1,500 for his services after receiving the divorce settlement.
Manjokota, the court heard received the money through his account in Zimbabwean dollars, equivalent to US$15,000, which he then misappropriated for personal gain.
During the investigation, Manjokota initially claimed he had transferred the $15,000 back to Mthonzima’s account.
However, he later changed his defense, stating that the money was used to settle the estate of one Mrs. Purazi.
The state, led by Taurai Mavuto, noted that the full US$15,000, equivalent to $16.5 million in local currency at the prevailing bank rate during that period, was never recovered.
Manjokota faced charges of theft of trust property and practicing law without being registered, in violation of the Legal Practitioners’ Act.
